Jeff and I are excited to announce we are starting the process to adopt and God willing hopefully add another little one from China to our family! Jeff first mentioned the idea to adopt again when we were packing our suitcases to leave China to bring Matthew home. All I could think of at the time was please just get us home!! But to keep thinking of all those little faces we saw left behind... we just cannot shake that memory. Looking back on this past year to see the difference having a family has made for Matthew, takes my breath away. However the biggest and best thing is the difference he has made in our entire family - it feels like our hearts have doubled in size. And while there have been some difficult days, we have still thought everyday about adopting again and the kids mention it all the time.
We have been trying to wait for the right time to start the process again. There is never a right time. We aren't getting any younger or richer. However, there is one extra seat at our dining room table and there is one extra bed in our house and even in our camper! I now even have a car that can fit an extra car seat. Why wait?
As we have told people, some have been happy and some not so much. That's ok. We understand, we get it. It doesn't sound like a great idea. Hey spend a bunch of money, add another little one, one with a medical need, we have a college freshman in the fall and hey you already have three other kids...
We don't know what the future will hold and sometimes it makes me gasp a little bit. But God has always promised to never leave us and to never forsake us. We are confident that His heart and hands rest firmly with orphans and for them to be orphans no more. We trust that our needs will be taken care of. If He can make the Heavens and the Earth, I believe He can handle this, too.
Quite frankly, this is not the future I ever imagined. I am over joyed that God decided His plans for our future were much better than the ones we could ever think of. So as we wade through an ocean of paperwork, we are giddy, thrilled, scared and trying to be patient to see who God has for our family.
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Lindsey, Shelby and Maggie - these guys have been friends since early elementary school. The best part is that I call their moms my closest and dearest friends, too!
